Delhi High Court asks Indian govt to assist two women get compensation in Saudi Arabia

The Delhi High Court has asked the Indian government to help two women in ascertaining and obtaining appropriate monetary relief in Saudi Arabia where they lost their family members in separate accidents.

The Court has given the order on two petitions filed by Stily George, who lost her husband George Antony in a tyre blast incident in 2014, and Dharohara Devi, whose son Dhirendra Kumar Singh died in another accident in Saudi Arabia. George Antony worked for the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs in Saudi Arabia since 1997 while Dhirendra Kumar Singh worked for a private company.

Delhi High Court has asked Indian government to assist two women get compensation in Saudi Arabia. Photo courtesy: ecourts.gov.in

However, the plea of the petitioners regarding compensation from the Indian government was turned down saying it was ‘untenable’ and ‘no relief can be granted’.

“Insofar as the claim for compensation from respondent (Union of India) is concerned, the same is clearly untenable and no relief in this regard can be granted,” said the Court.

Justice Vibhu Bakhru of Delhi High Court, said, “However, as far as their quest for assistance to obtain compensation/employment benefits of their deceased relatives is concerned, this Court is of the view that the respondent (government) should extend all possible assistance through diplomatic channels or otherwise to ascertain as to whether they are entitled to any relief and, if so, further assist them to secure the same.”

The court further observed that the petitioners are at liberty to make fresh representation and provide all details available with them regarding the incidents and the respective employers of the deceased persons.

Advocate for the petitioners Jose Abraham said that their clients have not received any compensation for the demise of their relatives.

The petitioners claimed that they were entitled to employment benefits of their respective deceased relatives. However, they have been unable to claim it from the employers.

Ashraf Jamal brings a rare depth to writing equipped with a degree in journalism, a postgraduate degree in political science, and a degree in law from the Allahabad University. His experience includes editing and publishing the Northern India Patrika and writing for Times of India for almost a decade covering just about any topic under the sun including NRIs and Indian diaspora.